Murder-suicide: Children's mother says husband left her alive to suffer

Two children and their father are dead after an apparent murder-suicide, according to Boynton Beach police.

Officers said they were called to a home at 431 S.W. 8th Ave. shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday by Victoria Flores Zavala, 36, who said her husband killed their children.

Investigators said Isidro Zavala, 45, had been separated from his wife for some time and was no longer living at the home.

Police said they found one child dead in a back-screened patio area. A second child was found dead in the kitchen dining room area.

"This is what Mrs. Zavala had to go through," said Boynton Beach Police Chief Matthew Immler. "She watched her two children killed before her. It's probably the most horrific thing you could ever imagine."

Detectives said they found Isidro Zavala in the kitchen with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Victoria Zavala told police she was watching TV when she heard a commotion in the house and found Isidro choking one of his sons.

She said she tried to fight Isidro off and begged him to kill her and not the children. Victoria said Isidro told her she was going to stay alive and suffer the loss of them.

The children were identified as Eduardo Zavala, 12, and Mario Zavala, 11.

Detectives said they received a search warrant for the home, as well as for a home at 1115 S.E. Third St. where Isidro had been living.

By Saturday afternoon, detectives said they determined that Isidro had gone to the home with the intent of killing his sons and his estranged wife.

Officers said they discovered a blue bag with a second firearm and extra ammunition instead.

The bag also had duct tape, cutting shears and an emotional note addressed to his oldest son and dated for Thursday. Investigators said they found another note at Isidro's home dated Jan. 21.

Police said Isidro was found dressed in all black.

Detectives said Isidro strangled both of his sons with a rope. Police said Isidro shot Mario several times before turning the gun on himself.

Investigators said the Zavalas' 19-year-old son, who does not live with the family, was not at the home at the time of the attack.

Police said they called the Department of Children and Families and found there was no history of reports of domestic violence or abuse at the home.

Friends and neighbors of the Zavala family are trying to comprehend the tragedy. Co-workers of Isidro Zavala, who worked landscaping, said this comes as a complete surprise.

"He's quiet, friendly and he never used a gun. I don't know what's wrong," said Miriano Batalla.

It's unclear why Zavala decided to kill his own children, but police said he left a suicide note.

Meanwhile, the community in Boynton Beach has gathered around the family. The little league coach of the two boys left a jersey on the family's home, and countless neighbors and friends stopped by the home to share their condolences.

The group, United 2 Bury the Violence, gathered Sunday at the scene of the incident before marching on Southwest Eighth Avenue and praying with the family's relatives.

"When we read and heard about this in the paper, it was so close physically, and we're very close to this mentally," said the group's president, David Dennis.

The group talked with several of the family's relatives to show support.

"We're here to support them," said member Raye Whitely. "We're here to tell them that we are here for them and they're not by themselves."

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."